Help with Airfields please

[Gunner Bailey]

I'm interested in Auxi-le-Petit and Conteville Airfields on the Pas de Calais and the Somme repectively.

If anyone knows of any histories, aerial views or Squadrons I'd appreciate it.

Gunner Bailey

[John S]

No's 6 8 52 99 and 110 Sqns were based at Auxi at varying times

and 24 41 48 49 54 65 and 84 Sqns at Conteville.

When I have a little more time I should be able to tell you dates and aircraft types if it is of interest.

Regards

John

[Gunner Bailey]

No's 6 8 52 99 and 110 Sqns were based at Auxi at varying times

and 24 41 48 49 54 65 and 84 Sqns at Conteville.

When I have a little more time I should be able to tell you dates and aircraft types if it is of interest.

Regards

John

Thanks John,

The answer is yes please. I have a Royal Engineers plan / sketch of the Conteville airfield, presumably to help build it, and it shows that it was to be the home of 23, 48, 65 and 209 Squadrons. That was the plan but looks like things changed in reality. Look forward to hearing more.

Gunner Bailey

[John S]

Note that you asked about Auxi le Petit. I have no reference to that airfield only Auxi le Chateau which is near Abbeville and Doullens. Assuming this is the same airfield then the following Squadrons were there.

It was here that Major McCudden crashed and died of his injuries. If it is this airfield then there are a couple of pictures and details of the crash in Airfield & Airmen – Arras (Battleground Europe)

6 Sqn RE8 (part) 26 Mar 1918 to 18 Jul 1918

17 Aug 1918 to 27 Aug 1918

8 Sqn AW FK8 (part)12 April 1918 to 5 Aug 1918

52 Sqn RE8 30 June 1918 to 4 Aug 1918

99 Sqn DH9A 16 Nov 1918 to 29 Nov 1918

110 Sqn DH 9A 20 Nov 1918 to 30 Nov 1918

Conteville

24 Sqn SE5a 28 Mar 1918 to 14 Aug 1918

41 Sqn SE5a 1 Jun 1918 to 14 Aug 1918

48 Sqn Bristol F2b 28 Mar 1918 to 3 Apr 1918

49 Sqn DH9 3 May 1918 to 2 Jun 1918

54 Sqn Camel 28 Mar 1918 to 7 Apr 1918

65 Sqn Camel 28 Mar 1918 to 6 Apr 1918

84 Sqn SE5a 28 Mar 1918 to 4 Apr 1918

You may find more info on this airfield in Airfields & Airmen – Somme

My info is from the book RAF Squadrons which doesn’t show either 23 or 209 based there.

Hope this is of some help

Regards

John

[Gunner Bailey]

Hi John

Thank you very much for this information. The dates and aircraft types are new information for me. Yes Auxi Le Chateau and Aux Le Petit are the same airfield (I think). It was where McCudden crashed, but I've not heard of another airfiield called 'Auxi Le Grand' or such to imply there was another airfield nearby.

There are some RFC burials at St Riquier and of course at Wavens. Other nearby airfields (from memory) were Boffles (where McCudden was heading) and Chateau De Remnasil (both between Auxi and Doullens).

Many thanks

Gunner Bailey

[Gunner Bailey]

Hi John

Just to add the following details from St Riquier Cemetary

The burials are:

FENNELL, Lt. Frederick Vibond. General List and 8th Sqdn. Royal Air Force. Killed whilst flying (crashed) 30th June 1918, aged 19. A 17

FOGGIN, Maj. Cyril Edgar. 40th Sqdn. Royal Air Force. Accidentally killed 30th July 1918, aged 26. B 16

KIRBY, 2nd Lt. Cecil Francis. 83rd Sqdn. Royal Air Force. Killed whilst flying (crashed) 6th Sept. 1918, aged 19. B 18

NORMAN, Pte. Leonard Charles. 49th Sqdn. Royal Air Force. Killed whilst flying 30th May 1918, aged 20. A 6

STEVENS, Lt. Richard Henry Borkwood. 49th Sqdn. Royal Air Force. Killed whilst flying 30th May 1918, aged 19. A 5

This ties up completely with your information about flying from Auxi and Conteville. There was a casualty clearing station at St Riquier for a short while.

Gunner Bailey

[Gunner Bailey]

Just another point. Rose Coombes uses the name Auxi - le Petit in Before Endeavours Fade - so I take that as a good pointer to its accuracy.

Gunner Bailey